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Remembered Today:

Transcribing a document and need opinions on handwritten notes


the_ageing_young_rebel

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Hi All

         I have a digital copy of a handwritten diary kept by an officer of the 1/4th gloucestershire reg that was sent to me many years ago. I'm going through it and making a transcription to help me read it more quickly and create a searchable document. I was hoping to get opinions on what this line may say though as I can't quite make out the handwritting. So far I have this "The M.O has discovered what he thinks to be an evidence of _____ in a mild form in C coy. Whole coy have temp taken. Probably all nonsense. Makes coy very weak for trenches." I have put words in red if I'm not 100% sure about them, but what did C coy have?

         Thanks for any help!

Screenshot 2022-07-29 at 12.22.37.png

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not evidence, but "epidemic of enterie" in my opinion.

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"enteric" maybe?? With a "c" ... as in enteric fever?? or enteric problems in general?? 

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Thanks so much! I'd never heard on enteric until I just googled it. I think you may both be correct!

Here is another though; who is this Major General? 

Screenshot 2022-07-29 at 12.46.06.png

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I'd think the MO would have to report even suspected cases of every ailment going.

Perhaps there's something in the 48th Division ADMS diary, may not be nonsense.

TEW

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Fanshawe! Thanks again team. You're really on a roll, so here is another:

What I have is " Leave trench XV on this show about 12.15am with great ______ of _______. After proceeding about 200x however we halt and proceed to listen violently. Two working parties are heard, nothing else "

Screenshot 2022-07-29 at 13.27.30.png

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4 minutes ago, Keith Brannen said:

"blowing of trumpet"? and "violently"

Thanks, that was my thought as well. I just couldn't quite imagine how to listen violently

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4 minutes ago, the_ageing_young_rebel said:

Thanks, that was my thought as well. I just couldn't quite imagine how to listen violently

Yes, should have been intently. And it is "trumpets" (missed the s at the end in above post).

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And here is another mystery one for me. So far I have this for this day:

"Sunday – October 3rd

Another quiet day. Made an ____ over breakfast + now have it before turning in. Much better too. They put over some shells very close to the Chateau about 9.0 o’clock, but am told I slept through it all. Did a little ___ after tea, Excavated a cavity for clock and put a dressing of ___ resin in. Hope to put in some cement later."

I assume he's talking about a grandfather clock that was mentioned a few days previously, but I'm not sure I understand the jist of this day

Thanks in advance

Screenshot 2022-08-01 at 16.00.39.png

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  • Admin

Did a little dentistry, dressing of carbolised resin. 

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made an alteration? over breakfast

and it may be "Excavated a cavity for" Clark, not clock (see the difference between the word and the way o'clock is written).

 

Edited by Keith Brannen
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11 minutes ago, Ilbury Welsh said:

The soldier with the bad tooth could be Mr Clack, it is a known surname. John

That's true enough, but on balance, the penultimate letter of the surname looks more like the 'r' in 'later' , 'alteration' and 'dentistry', rather than a 'c' as in 'clock', 'cavity' and 'close'.

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That makes sence, this officer had a career as a dental surgeon after the war. Thanks as always everybody!

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Ok, you've all proved very useful with this and obviously much better at reading handwritting than me. But here is a tough one. What does the ammunition recess contain?

Screenshot 2022-08-08 at 13.49.07.png

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                                                                "...containing
mark you, a box full box of ammunition & apparently
unopened..."
 

Edited by Dai Bach y Sowldiwr
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"We have looted a ration box and used it for our ammunition recess containing mark you a XXX full box of ammunition and apparently unopened. This gives a tone to the whole thing "

Martin

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Ok, that was obviosuly too easy for the old sweats on the group (thanks again). But is "Holland really the Prince of those Devils" or something else entirely?

Screenshot 2022-08-08 at 14.02.38.png

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I suspect "Holland is the very prince of dare devils"

Steve

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1 minute ago, SteveE said:

I suspect "Holland is the very prince of dare devils"

Steve

Of course! Thanks

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